An Unforgettable Summer (Good Guys Don't Date Bad Boys Bonus Story, Patreon Exclusive) - Epilogue (Patreon)

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Epilogue

“Mr. Simmons,” Francine exclaimed in an impatient tone as she rushed down the stairs to welcome the Kingsleys. “Quick, we have new guests!”

Jonathan and Maddox had their hands full, although Vern and Stenton had insisted that they could deal with the plethora of luggage the family had decided they couldn’t live without, and they were bringing up the rear of the group. As much as Francine had prepared for the occasion to welcome Maddox’s entire family, it looked like no time was enough.

In all honesty, Maddox had expected his family to be impressed and all emotional over the size of the Hamiltons’ estate. Therefore, this face of his future mother-in-law, all flustered and a teeny-bitsy anxious, was completely unexpected. Jonathan seemed to be surprised as well, judging by the look he threw in his mom’s direction.

“Welcome, welcome,” Francine said expansively and exchanged cheek kisses with Maddox’s mom, only to turn to each and every one of the family members and do the same. “Follow me. I’ll show you to your rooms. You cannot believe how many things one must take care of when it comes to engagement parties. I’m in over my head. Mr. Simmons, no, you go to the kitchen, get something ready. No, better, go let George know. He’s in his study. No--”

Maddox didn’t listen any further, as busy as he was with the luggage and turning in the direction of Al’s room first to help his favorite sister get comfortable. Jonathan followed him, as well as Al, while Francine was still busy divvying up responsibilities, most probably by forcing the butler to split into four different people, at least.

“Wow, bro,” Al commented with a grin that stretched ear to ear. “Mom wasn’t kidding. You’re really marrying up.”

“Hey, your future brother-in-law is standing right behind you. Don’t let him know I’m in this for the money,” Maddox said back.

The butler had chosen a very beautiful room for Alicia, one that was on the smaller side compared to others, but cozy and decorated as if for a little princess. Al stopped in the doorway, gasped and brought both hands to her mouth. “O. M. G., is this where I’m going to spend the entire next week?”

Jonathan let out a small embarrassed laugh. “I’m afraid so. If it’s too cutesy for your style, let me know, and I’ll have Mr. Simmons find an alternative for you.”

Al walked into the room and bounced on the single bed covered by a light pink coverlet. “Are you kidding me? I love it! Don’t change anything!” She put both her hands up in a pleading gesture.

“Isn’t it too pink for you?” Maddox put down the luggage belonging to Al and tweaked a small bow hanging from a drawer knob. “You know, too frilly?”

Al gave him a condescending look. “You just don’t understand the heart of a woman, brother.”

“Lucky me,” Maddox said with a snort. “Now, let’s go help the others settle, babe,” he told Jonathan. “You know, before your mom turns my man Simmons into a total wreck.”

“Don’t worry,” Jonathan hurried to assure him. “Mr. Simmons has dealt with worse before. Or maybe not. However, he has the experience and expertise of a lifetime on his side.”

Al was back on her feet, exploring everything with her keen artist eyes. “Jonathan, do you think your family would mind if I took a lot of photos? Like a lot?”

“No, not at all. Please, go ahead,” Jonathan offered courteously.

“Don’t encourage her. She might feel tempted to take compromising pictures of us and sell them to tabloids.”

Jonathan chuckled. “I don’t think so. I trust my future sister-in-law.”

At that, Al turned on her heels, forgetting her artistic exploits for a bit and rushed into Jonathan’s arms to hug him. “I’m really gaining a brother. A much cooler one.” She stuck her tongue out at Maddox.

He couldn’t miss such a chance and caught his sister’s tongue between his thumb and index finger, making her protest with a muffled cry.

Jonathan put himself in harm’s way and tore them apart by catching Maddox’s hand. Al promptly kissed him on the cheek and ran away from her brother. Maddox acquiesced to being taken by the shoulders and pushed out of the room. “She’s going to use that leverage,” he commented, as soon as they were outside Al’s eavesdropping range.

“What leverage?” Jonathan asked.

“You know, that she has you in her corner.”

“I can live with that.”

“Are you trying to steal my sister?”

“Hey, soon enough she’s going to be my sister, too.”

They laughed together while moving from room to room to distribute the other luggage they had carried up the stairs.

***

“I didn’t know there would be so many people.” Florence took Jonathan’s arm and walked by his side. “Your family has a lot of friends.”

The formal and official engagement party was now in full swing, which meant that Florence had barely escaped in one piece after being introduced by Jonathan’s mom to a lot of strangers. While Jonathan had insisted that the party should only include the people closest to them, he couldn’t entirely deny his parents’ desire to show all their support for his engagement to Maddox. As part of that world, he also understood why the need for making this official in front of others was essential for his family. However, he didn’t know how well that sat with Florence and the rest of the Kingsleys. “They are mostly acquaintances. And trust me, it was hard work to cut the list to a tenth of what they had in mind initially.”

To his surprise, Florence laughed. “A full house doesn’t scare us,” she said. “My intuition tells me you feel the need to justify your parents’ choices just so that we don’t feel uncomfortable.”

“That’s very kind of you to say,” Jonathan offered politely.

“It’s not just kindness, you know. We are pretty proud to be joining our families. You cannot believe the gossip that’s been flying around in our home town. Some people are even convinced you must be heir apparent to a kingdom somewhere.”

“As long as it doesn’t bother you,” Jonathan said again.

“Not in the least. But just so that you know, Jonathan, it wouldn’t have mattered if you were all alone in the world. You’re the boy my boy chose as his better half. That’s something I’m quite sure of. I raised three boys, and as much as I tried, not one of them turned out as polite and well-behaved as you are. You’re making us very happy. All of us.”

Jonathan felt touched by Florence’s words, and he was about to thank her profusely when someone called for a speech. They hurried back to their places, and Jonathan was surprised to see that it was his otherwise very quiet father holding a champagne glass and waiting for everyone to get ready to listen to what he had to say.

Finally, he cleared his throat and looked at Jonathan and Maddox who were seated across from him.

“It might not be wise to give a speech at an engagement party,” Jonathan’s dad began, “since that means I’ll have to top it at the wedding--”

Everyone laughed.

“—but after the year that has passed, I decided that it is not only my right, but also my honor to address a few words to my son and the young man he has chosen as a partner in life. As they say, there comes a moment in every parent’s life when they have to understand that the child they raised can no longer be theirs alone.”

Maddox wrapped his arm around Jonathan. At least, he wasn’t the only one getting a bit emotional over hearing his father talk about them in front of all those people.

“I am not the kind to give long speeches. So, I won’t become too verbose right now. Nonetheless, I want to say that I am beyond content with my son’s choice in a partner. Maddox Kingsley,” Jonathan’s dad said, raising his glass, “you are a bright wonderful young man. Welcome to the family. We are glad we will be able to call you our son as well, as soon as that is possible.”

Everyone applauded, and it wasn’t just for the sake of convention. Jonathan looked around, and saw so many people who were happy for them to have come this far. Maddox stood and thanked George. Jonathan looked proudly at his fiancé and future husband.

***

“Where are you taking us, vile beast?” Maddox whispered.

“Vile beast? That sounded so like something Jonathan would say,” Rusty said and snorted. He had a flashlight and was guiding them through the large backyard to some destination he didn’t care to disclose.

“I don’t talk like that,” Jonathan protested right away.

“What are you planning, Rusty? The party isn’t over yet.”

“Of course, it’s not,” Rusty replied promptly. “It’s just that, you know, we should leave the old folks to do their old folks stuff, while we do ours.”

“Did you plan this with Al?”

“Your lil’ sis? Nah, my man, you know me better than that. I’m the king of parties.”

Maddox groaned, but only for show. He expected it would be something good. No surprise there, the small guest house further out back was all lit up and heads were at the windows, waiting for their arrival.

Rusty took both of them by the shoulders and began pushing them toward the house. “Now, let the true party begin!”

Everyone broke into a cheer as soon as they were inside. Al came to greet them, a plastic cup in hand. “Let’s party like we’re still college kids.” She kissed them on the cheeks.

“We are still college kids,” Maddox pointed out.

“Not all of us,” his oldest brother, Vern, said as he grabbed them both by the shoulders and bumped his fist against Rusty’s. “Good thing Mr. Simmons had all prepared for us with kids, as well. Now, we can truly party.”

Maddox laughed. Vern was usually so stern, so dependable, but he looked younger at the moment, his shirt open in front and a drink in his hand that wasn’t a champagne flute. “How did you guys manage to bring all of this here?” He gestured toward the beer keg in the middle of the room and a large table filled with snacks of various kinds.

“Mr. Simmons is truly a resourceful man,” Vern replied. “However, he insisted that the pizza should be prepared in-house.”

“We can live with that,” Rusty said brightly. “Now, come, come, there’s much to do.”

***

Jonathan looked at Maddox, content to observe him without being noticed. With rolled up sleeves, the slightly drunk expression in his eyes, and looking so happy, Maddox was, simply put, a sight to behold.

Everybody wanted to congratulate them in all kinds of ways, and so far, the collection of small gifts was rising to quite a hefty stack, towering on a table for them to sort through later.

And now was the moment of truth, as Rusty had called it. They gathered around the vase and exchanged looks, some devious, some excited, but all well-intended.

Rusty grabbed the vase and shook it. “I’m not usually for this kind of normy stuff,” he said, “but Alicia convinced me that we should have it. The only thing is, we’re not going to have Jonathan and Maddox wait for a year to open it and have fun on their own. No, this is when we’re going to find out who was naughty and who was nice in their predictions.”

“I thought they were anonymous,” Mary, Maddox’s sister, said with a stricken face.

“They are, but we can all make guesses,” Rusty said promptly.

“I don’t think it’s going to be that difficult to identify which one you wrote,” Maddox said, and the rest of the room laughed.

Even those who hadn’t known Rusty before were now absolutely sure that the king of Sunny Hill could only come up with some kinky ideas about where and how Jonathan and Maddox would be in the future.

“And another thing,” Rusty added. “Everyone was free to choose what time in the future they wanted to use for their predictions.”

“Come on, come on, let’s roll,” Alicia insisted. “Let’s hear some predictions!”

Rusty cleared his throat and stuck his arm deep inside the vase, coming up with a small folded piece of paper. He put the vase back on the table and read. “One year from now, Jonathan and Maddox will fret over matching tuxedos for the wedding. Maddox will insist that Jonathan wears white.”

“I won’t,” Maddox protested.

Rusty gave a long look to the audience, as if he was trying to guess who came up with that very specific prediction.

Jonathan didn’t have to struggle very hard to guess. Alicia had a devious smile on her pretty face. He had an inkling that she wouldn’t mind dressing them up like dolls for the wedding.

Rusty picked the next piece of paper. “Five years from now, Jonathan and Maddox will have a house in the suburbs and 2.3 kids. They will quarrel who has to go to PTA meetings.” By the way Ray and Hanna were exchanging winning looks, that had to be the source for that prediction.

So, everyone was pretty much making light of those predictions and that was good. As engrossed as he was in watching Maddox being happy, he mostly tuned out the series of predictions, lost in daydreaming about his own.

“And the last,” Rusty announced and kept the paper folded up. “I predict,” he began, “that one year, and five years, and eighty years from now, Jonathan and Maddox will be happy.”

“That’s it?” Ray asked.

“Yes,” Rusty said with a pleased smile.

Jonathan didn’t have to guess that time, either.

***

“Oh, babe, I’m so wasted,” Maddox complained while crawling on top of Jonathan like a monkey. “You shouldn’t have let me drink so much.”

“You didn’t drink so much. You’re just lightweight,” Jonathan teased him and caressed his forehead.

“Come on, for real? I’m a heavyweight. I’m called Mad Dawg.” He giggled uncontrollably for a good minute.

“Did you just now discover that your nickname is funny?” Jonathan asked while kissing Maddox slowly.

“No, it’s not that. We’re so going to get married next year, right?”

“I hope you didn’t change your mind.”

“Of course not. It’s just that I will finally be able to pull off that joke.”

“What joke?”

“I can introduce you to people as my ex-boyfriend.”

Jonathan groaned and rolled his eyes. “For real? What if people think that it’s all right to hit on you or me as a result?”

Maddox seemed to ponder a moment. “You’re right,” he said with a sigh. “I won’t do that.”

“Hey, maybe I can introduce you as my roommate,” Jonathan decided to pull his fiancé’s leg a bit.

“You know you won’t be able to do that,” Maddox said matter-of-factly. “Ray has already called dibs on calling you his roomie and bestie forever. You know, like an honorary title or something.”

“Ah, well,” Jonathan said. “Then, I suppose we will only be able to introduce ourselves as husband and husband.”

“Yeah.” Maddox remained quiet for a moment and then lifted his head. He gave Jonathan a slightly startled look.

“What?”

“You’re my ex-boyfriend anyway!”

“Maddox,” Jonathan growled playfully.

“Yeah, ‘cause you’re my fiancé,” Maddox said and giggled again. “And I love you, which means that we will get married.”

Jonathan had nothing to say against that sort of logic.

“We should make love as fiancé and fiancé,” Maddox suggested, but he was slowly drifting off.

“Maybe a bit later,” Jonathan replied and wrapped his arms around him. “We have at least one year for that.”

THE END

Author's note: And that was it, guys! I tried to include in the story as many of your suggestions as I could. In the end, I hope you enjoyed this long ending for Good Guys Don't Date Bad Boys. Of course, we won't say goodbye to Jonathan and Maddox for good. Rusty's story is coming up next, and, of course, they will be a part of it, even if only as secondary characters. 

Thank you again for all your support! These stories come to life because you're here!